Clinical Spectrum of Covid-19 in Children: A Retrospective Study in Tertiary Care Covid Hospital

Abstract

Introduction:Corona virus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This has begun in China and had spread to other countries.On 11 March 2020-WHO declared covid-19 as pandemic.Children suffering with Covid 19 infection were increased though at the beginning of pandemic paediatric cases were less.Materials and methods:This study was conducted in one of the Covid-19 tertiary care hospital (designated state Covid hospital) in pediatric wing. This was a retrospective study conducted in patients admitted between may-2020 to October 2020. Clinical profile and outcomes were studied for children aged 1 month to 12 years admitted in Covid-19 tertiary care hospital with positive nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Diagnosis clinical grading and treatment of covid-19 cases was done based on guidelines by Govt of India.Results:The median age (IQR) of children admitted were 9 (4-13 years) and male children (N=54, 55.6%) outnumber females with a male: female ratio of 1.25:1. There was no relationship between gender and incidence of COVID infection in children (p=0.12, Chi square test).Conclusion:Severe life-threatening illnesses in the form of ARDS, GBS, KD and other multisystem involvement are seen in these patients. Therefore, it is mandatory in current scenario to have a high degree of suspicion for COVID-19 in children admitted in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) with an unexplained diagnosis, persistent fever and high levels of inflammatory markers.